Strapless brassiere



June 7, 1949. SHULMAN STRAPLESS BRASSIERE Filed Oct. 15, 1947 K Rm W m R mm m NH 7 15 4.

Patented June 7, 1949 nvention relates"tdgnewgand iis'etmiimr govemen smarapiessbmesie .neretorore; numerous types i. and designs l of '-."strap less brassi'res have" bee aide which; main- "tain'their position'witli'out' t e need of shoulder straps. The'se straplesstbrelssieres usually make f gnetallic wire forms or elastic portionsin- Q 1' It is insertions were not sufficient to firmly and securely hold the brassires in place, and consequently additional supports, such as cross straps or inserts lower down on the brassieres were used. The dominating feature of this invention resides in the arrangement of an elastic tape upon the top edge portion of a .brassiere in a manner so that it is capable of securely holding the strapless brassire in position without requiring additional supporting devices.

This invention particularly relates to a strapless brassire having two breast receiving pockets, a straight bottom edge portion, and a top edge portion which is low between said pockets and curved upwardly to the top portions of said pockets and then downwardly to the end portions of the brassiere. This invention proposes an elastic tape mounted with elastic stitches along the entire length of said top edge portion of the brassiere following the curvature thereof. It is proposed that this elastic tape when in a normally relaxed condition should contract the brassiere into substantially U-shape form providing strapless holding up of the brassiere when stretched straight and worn in a stretched condition.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a brassiere as described which is simple and durable and which may be manu faotured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a strapless brassiere constructed in accordance with this invention and illustrated in a free condition.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the brassiere shown in Fig. 1 but in a stretched out straight condition as it would appear when ready to be worn.

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i 2 .gfrae rientjam".en ar ed.Yi t honorin 2. ticalQsect'ional.yieviQtakeqnmthe and curved upwardly to" the 'top portions said pockets and then downwardly to the end portions l6 and I! of the brassiere. The brassiere 10 preferably is provided with stays [8 about the pockets H for supplementing the supporting action of the brassire. The end portions I6 and I! are of conventional construction. The end portion I6 is provided with the usual elastic insert 2| and eyelets l9 cooperative with hooks 20 on the end portion I! of the brassiere. Further details of the brassire itself need not be given in this specification because they are not important in so far as this invention goes.

A new feature of the strapless lorassire, in accordance with this invention, comprises an elastic tape 22 mounted with elastic stitches 23 alon the entire length of said top edge portion B of the brassire, and in a, normally relaxed position forming said brassiere into substantially U- shape form, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1, for

providing strapless support of said brassiere when stretched straight, as illustrated in Fig. 2, and worn in said stretched condition. The elastic tape 22 is in the form of a strip of elastic material which is bent along its longitudinal center forming a top bent portion 24 and side portions 25 and 26.. These side portions 25 and 26 engage on the front and back sides of the top edge portion of the brassiere.

The elastic stitches 23 comprise conventional zig-zag stitches well known in the art. The elastic tape 22 is mounted along the top edge portion l3 of the brassiere by stretching it and sewing it down in a stretched condition. It is important that the elastic tape 22 have sufficient elasticity and be stretched sufficiently when applied so that when it is free it is capable of forming the brassiere into the U-shape formation illustrated in Fig. l.

The operation and use of the new brassie'r'e may be understood from the following:

The brassire, when in a free condition, appears as illustrated in Fig. 1. When worn the wearer merely grips the two ends thereof and pulls them apart, stretching the brassire so that it assumes the formation illustrated in Fig. 2,

and then engages the brassiere in position about her body in the usual way. Because the elastic tape 22 extends the entire length of the top edge. portion of the brassire it is capable of applying uniform pressure completely about the body of the wearer for securely and firmly holding the brassire in position without requiring the addition of cross straps, elastic inserts, or other de vices.

From actual trial it was determined that short lengths of elastic tape mounted on portions of the top edge of the brassire did not suflice. Brassieres so constructed were not secure. Moreover, it was also discovered that when the elastic tape 22 is mounted along the entire length of the top edge portion l3 of the brassire it does not materially deform the curvature of the top edge portion of the brassiere when the latter is worn because of the reaction of the wearers body against the brassire itself.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

In a strapless brassire, a sumcient length of elastic tape mounted across the top portion of the brassire in order to contract said top portion sufficiently when the brassiere is in a free condition to give the brassire a U-shape in which the end portions of the brassiere extend upwards of the central portion, and means for connecting said end portions when said brassire is stretched straight about a wearers body and worn in order that the central portion of the brassire is forced upwards for lifting the breasts.

LOUIS SHULMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,075,449 Vacek Oct. 14, 1913 1,115,034 Stensland Oct. 27, 1914 2,016,516 Robbins Oct. 8, 1935 2,239,056 Schiffer Apr. 22, 1941 2,379,491 Maldofi July 3, 1945 2,406,893 Nunn Sept. 3, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 50,264 France Oct. 24, 1939 825,043 France Nov, 27, 1937 

